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Terry Bowden Will Lend Dad A Hand At FSU

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By SCOTT CARTER, The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 26, 2007

TALLAHASSEE - When Florida State opens the season at Clemson on Labor Day night, the Seminoles will again own a familial edge in what has become known as the Bowden Bowl.

While former FSU offensive coordinator Jeff Bowden is no longer on his father's coaching staff, Terry Bowden will be lending pop a hand as Seminoles coach Bobby Bowden prepares for his annual showdown against another of his sons, Clemson coach Tommy Bowden.

Orlando radio station WHOO, 1080 AM announced Wednesday that Terry Bowden is leaving his post as co-host of the 'Terry Bowden-Brady Ackerman Show' to move to Tallahassee as an 'observer' of FSU's football program. Terry was heavily involved in helping his father revamp Florida State's coaching staff in the offseason and spoke regularly during Bobby Bowden's annual spring booster tour.

It's no secret the former Auburn coach is interested in a return to coaching. Terry Bowden did not return a cell phone message Wednesday, but earlier this week at the ACC Football Kickoff in North Carolina, Tommy Bowden told reporters his older brother appears ready to return to the sideline.

'This is my personal opinion,' Tommy Bowden said. 'He got actively involved in helping dad put his staff together. I think that kind of lit the fire back.'

Terry will continue to serve as a college football analyst for WHOO, Westwood One and ABC Sports this fall, but he is expected to spend most of his time in Tallahassee, attending three or more practices per week as an unpaid volunteer assistant coach.

Bobby Bowden backed up Tommy's assessment of Terry's future plans at the ACC Football Kickoff.

'He ought to be coaching. He's got something special,' Bobby Bowden said. 'He may be the best of all of us.'

In recent years, the 50-year-old Terry Bowden has liked to say he is 'on the Dick Vermeil plan,' referring to the former Eagles coach who got burned out, went into broadcasting for 14 years, then returned to coaching to win a Super Bowl with the St. Louis Rams.

Bowden took over at Auburn in 1993 and won his first 20 games. In six seasons, he won 47 games before being forced out by a group of prominent boosters in 1998.

At his father's booster tour stop in Apopka in May, Terry Bowden said getting involved in helping his father revamp FSU's coaching staff - new offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher and offensive line coach Rick Trickett worked on Terry's staff at Auburn - rekindled his passion for the game.

'When Jeff resigned and my dad made those moves, I said, 'You know, I want to get involved.' I want my dad to win,' he said. 'I think Florida State is going to have another run.'

Reporter Scott Carter can be reached at (850) 294-3088 or

scarter@tampatrib.com.

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